Category Archives: Windows 10

Windows: USB stick not recognized after formatting with Linux

I had recently created a bootable USB disk for a Linux distro. After I did not use that anymore, I wanted to format it in my Windows 10 machine. But it was not recognized anymore. No drive letter, not visible in File Explorer. In "Disk Management" it was visible, but I could not format it there either. Using command line tool "Diskpart" did not help either as the "clean" command ended with an "Access Denied" error. In the end, the folloing sequence of commands helped me in "Diskpart": list Read more [...]

Windows: Shared Printer Cannot Be Added (Error 740)

When logged in as Administrator in a Windows 10 or 11 machine, when you try to add a shared printer, you get the error: That didn't work. We can't install this printer right now. Try again later or contact your network administrator for help. Error: #740. The underlying problem is this: Error 740 means: "The requested operation requires elevation". This is a problem as you are already logged in as Administrator. So the solution is to start the "Add Printer Wizard" as Administrator. To do this: Read more [...]

Windows 10: Top Part of Maximized Window is not Visible

I have rarely the issue that all of a sudden, on some programs (for example Edge and Firefox) I can't see the top part of the Window anymore. Preconditions for this to happen: Multi screen (does never happen on single screen setups) Happens only on the primary screen Only when application is maximised Only some applications are affected, not all (Microsoft Office apps are never affected): File Explorer, Edge, Firefox, Notepad and many others What does not help: Minimizing Read more [...]

Windows: Check Time Synchronization

If you are not sure if the time of your Windows Server or Client is synchronized properly or if you would like to know which is the time source, you can use the following command lines (Start cmd with Administrator privileges): net start w32time w32tm /resync w32tm /query /status You should see something like this: C:\Users\Administrator>w32tm /query /status Leap Indicator: 0(no warning) Stratum: 2 (secondary reference - syncd by (S)NTP) Precision: -6 (15.625ms per tick) Root Read more [...]

Windows 10: How to remove items from the Start Menu

The Windows 10 Start Menu is not as customizable as it used to be in Windows 7. While the part on the right (the tiles) can be easily removed and added by right-clicking them, the traditional part on the left (folders and shortcuts) is not customizable any more. In Windows 7, you could right-click on a shortcut and then delete or rename it. Not any more in Windows 10. There are tricks to modify the Windows 10 Start Menu shortcuts anyway. Find the instructions to do so below: Traditional Applications The Read more [...]

Windows 10: How to disable System Apps

Some Windows 10 apps cannot be uninstalled, even not with Power Shell commands. One example is the Edge browser. But you can disable those apps by renaming the folder that they are stored in. The system apps can be found in C:\Windows\SystemApps Find below the list of folders that I have renamed without any problem: ContactSupport_cw5n1h2txyewy = Get Help CortanaListenUIApp_cw5n1h2txyewy DesktopLearning_cw5n1h2txyewy DesktopView_cw5n1h2txyewy EnvironmentsApp_cw5n1h2txyewy holocamera_cw5n1h2txyewy holoitemplayerapp_cw5n1h2txyewy InsiderHub_cw5n1h2txyewy Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin_cw5n1h2txyewy Microsoft.AccountsControl_cw5n1h2txyewy Read more [...]

Windows 10: Disable Picture on Lock Screen

On the Windows 10 Lock Screen, you can have either a picture or a slide show. If you would like to have a solid background, there is no option for this. Here is what you need to do: Click on the Start Menu and then type lock screen Choose "Lock screen settings" Make sure that under "Background" you have chosen "Picture" Under the pictures, choose "Browse" Browse to C: > Windows > Web > Screen Choose the blue solid picture (this is called "img105.jpg" on my machine). Click Read more [...]

Windows 10: Can't type in Search field

After I had done some changes in Windows 10 to make it faster and less "chatty" to Microsoft (switch off Telemetry, switch off error reporting etc.) I could not use search any more. Symptoms were: Can't type into Cortana search field Can't type to search in Start Menu Can't type to search in Win 10 App Store Can't type in taskbar search Can't type in Settings search There are lots people with the same or similar issues as can be seen from a simple Internet search "win 10 taskbar Read more [...]

Windows 10: iPad in recovery mode not recognized by iTunes

I had an iPad that was bricked and i brought it into Recovery Mode to Factory Reset it: Disconnect the USB cable from your iPad, but leave the other side connected to your Mac or PC Launch iTunes Press and hold down the Home and Sleep/Power button on the top of the iPad to turn off the iPad Press and continue to hold the Home button while you reconnect the USB cable to your iPhone, this will cause the iPad to turn on Continue to hold the Home button until an alert message in iTunes Read more [...]